Are You Signed Up?

I just signed up and...

wow, I'm number 1321!  

I don't know how many bloggers were involved in the A-Z Challenge my first year, but I'm pretty sure it was around 300.  I'm blown away that it has grown so much!

Thanks to Arlee, the creator and all his wonderful co-hosts for putting it on again this year!  If you're not signed up yet head on over to A-Z Challenge, to sign up and read what it's all about.  Every year I meet so many great new blogging buddies through the Challenge.  And it's a lot of fun to see what everyone comes up with.

Last year's challenge took a lot out of me.  My theme was What My Grandpa Taught Me, and it was right after his passing.  There were many mornings I left my laptop in tears.  By the time May rolled around, I just didn't have the strength to post anymore.  I had used it all up.
I think I maybe wrote ten more posts the rest of the year.

But this year I feel refreshed.
I have a theme all ready (not telling yet!) and it won't bring on the facial waterfalls.  So I'm excited to get started.  I've started planning my posts, but I haven't written any yet.  Hopefully, I'll get to that tomorrow.  In the past, I haven't pre-written posts, but this year for me is all about trying new things.  I'll let you know if it works.

Are you signed up?  Is this your first year or have you been in it since the beginning?
Do you have a theme yet?

Have a great Wednesday!

Kathy :)

Jumping Out of My Comfort Zone

I haven’t been around for awhile.  Thank goodness for D.L. Hammons Blitzs which get me visiting and commenting a little bit.  

I’ve been busy reading a lot, writing some, and taking care of Jessica who suffered a concussion almost a month ago now and is just beginning to feel better.  It’s been a challenge keeping her spirits up when she was told she had to rest mind and body completely which meant no computer to write on and no reading.  One day she was in her room and said she was just staring at the ceiling.  :(

What I’m most excited about though, is what I did Saturday.  In my last post, from January, I said one of my goals was to take myself to a new level this year and Saturday was what I was referring to.  

Two months ago my much younger skating friend talked me into entering an adult figure skating competition with her.  It was crazy, I know.  I hadn’t competed in 25 years, but I’m on the ice every day to teach, so I thought maybe it was possible.  

We had lots of fun training together but as last week came to a close and our event neared, I began to worry I was over my head.  My lungs were on fire as I tried to make it through my three minute program and two of the jumps were still giving me trouble.  What had I been thinking?  But I was also excited. I had to concentrate on the things I was good at and enjoy performing.    

Then Saturday was upon us.  I was nervous and I knew I hadn’t trained as much as I should have because of all those other things in life that always manage to create road blocks. I was as ready as I could be at that moment in time and I just had to go for it.  

I’d like to say that as soon as I stepped on the ice all my nervousness melted away, but it didn’t. I was determined though, to enjoy each one of my three minutes and show what I could do.

Jumping out of my comfort zone!!

As my music played, time slowed and each movement flowed from my body.  I had time to think about how lucky I was to be there with my kids, husband, and parents cheering me on.  

What a moment.  

During the last minute, I took a deep breath both to calm my excitement and to not pass out during my big finish.

When the last few notes played and I struck my ending pose nothing else mattered.  I had done it!  A huge smile broke across my face as I bowed and skated off.  I knew I hadn’t skated everything perfectly but I landed all my jumps and did everything I had hoped to do.  

The scores didn’t even matter.    

Alyssa, me, Jessica, and my coach

What have you been up to?  Any big news?  A-Z is coming up are you participating?



Kathy :)